Tall-sedge base-rich fen
Description (English)
Tall-sedge fens are dominated by medium to tall graminoids and tall herbs, along with a patchier tier of low plants, and a ground carpet of rich-fen bryophytes. They are limited to flat landforms where base-rich, nutrient-poor groundwater from springs and seepage lines keep the surface very wet, even in summer. They occur throughout Europe, particularly in the Atlantic and central European lowlands, becoming transitional in species composition northwards to quaking calcareous fens, though sometimes covering large areas in Fennoscandia.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code Q43 |
|---|---|
| Relation to | Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive) |
| Relation to | Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites) |
Legal status
Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableIndicator species
Diagnostic species
Constant species
Dominant species
Flowering Plants
Schoenus ferrugineus
Mosses & Liverworts
Campylium stellatum
Flowering Plants
Juncus subnodulosus
Flowering Plants
Carex hostiana
Mosses & Liverworts
Scorpidium revolvens
Mosses & Liverworts
Fissidens adianthoides
Flowering Plants
Carex panicea
Flowering Plants
Eriophorum latifolium
Flowering Plants
Succisa pratensis
Flowering Plants
Schoenus nigricans
Flowering Plants
Parnassia palustris
Flowering Plants
Molinia caerulea
Flowering Plants
Epipactis palustris
Flowering Plants
Carex davalliana
Flowering Plants
Carex lepidocarpa
Flowering Plants
Pinguicula vulgaris
Flowering Plants
Primula farinosa
Flowering Plants
Dactylorhiza incarnata
Flowering Plants
Valeriana dioica
Flowering Plants
Cladium mariscus
Diagnostic species occur concentrated in the habitat in question, but are absent or rare in other habitats. They are good positive indicators of the habitat, but they do not need to occur in every location of the habitat.
| Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
|---|---|---|
| Schoenus ferrugineus | Flowering Plants | |
| Campylium stellatum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Juncus subnodulosus | Flowering Plants | |
| Carex hostiana | Flowering Plants | |
| Scorpidium revolvens | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Fissidens adianthoides | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Carex panicea | Flowering Plants | |
| Eriophorum latifolium | Flowering Plants | |
| Succisa pratensis | Flowering Plants | |
| Schoenus nigricans | Flowering Plants | |
| Parnassia palustris | Flowering Plants | |
| Molinia caerulea | Flowering Plants | |
| Epipactis palustris | Flowering Plants | |
| Carex davalliana | Flowering Plants | |
| Carex lepidocarpa | Flowering Plants | |
| Pinguicula vulgaris | Flowering Plants | |
| Primula farinosa | Flowering Plants | |
| Dactylorhiza incarnata | Flowering Plants | |
| Valeriana dioica | Flowering Plants | |
| Cladium mariscus | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Molinia caerulea
Mosses & Liverworts
Campylium stellatum
Flowering Plants
Potentilla erecta
Flowering Plants
Carex panicea
Flowering Plants
Parnassia palustris
Flowering Plants
Succisa pratensis
Mosses & Liverworts
Scorpidium revolvens
Flowering Plants
Schoenus ferrugineus
Flowering Plants
Phragmites australis
Flowering Plants
Schoenus nigricans
Flowering Plants
Juncus subnodulosus
Flowering Plants
Eriophorum latifolium
Flowering Plants
Pinguicula vulgaris
Flowering Plants
Carex hostiana
Ferns
Equisetum palustre
Flowering Plants
Primula farinosa
Mosses & Liverworts
Calliergonella cuspidata
Flowering Plants
Epipactis palustris
Flowering Plants
Carex davalliana
Flowering Plants
Valeriana dioica
Constant species occur frequently in the habitat, but they may include generalist species that are also frequent in other habitats.
| Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
|---|---|---|
| Molinia caerulea | Flowering Plants | |
| Campylium stellatum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Potentilla erecta | Flowering Plants | |
| Carex panicea | Flowering Plants | |
| Parnassia palustris | Flowering Plants | |
| Succisa pratensis | Flowering Plants | |
| Scorpidium revolvens | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Schoenus ferrugineus | Flowering Plants | |
| Phragmites australis | Flowering Plants | |
| Schoenus nigricans | Flowering Plants | |
| Juncus subnodulosus | Flowering Plants | |
| Eriophorum latifolium | Flowering Plants | |
| Pinguicula vulgaris | Flowering Plants | |
| Carex hostiana | Flowering Plants | |
| Equisetum palustre | Ferns | |
| Primula farinosa | Flowering Plants | |
| Calliergonella cuspidata | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Epipactis palustris | Flowering Plants | |
| Carex davalliana | Flowering Plants | |
| Valeriana dioica | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Schoenus ferrugineus
Flowering Plants
Schoenus nigricans
Flowering Plants
Juncus subnodulosus
Mosses & Liverworts
Campylium stellatum
Mosses & Liverworts
Scorpidium revolvens
Flowering Plants
Molinia caerulea
Flowering Plants
Cladium mariscus
Dominant species are those that often reach high cover in the habitat, thus determining the habitat physiognomy.
| Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
|---|---|---|
| Schoenus ferrugineus | Flowering Plants | |
| Schoenus nigricans | Flowering Plants | |
| Juncus subnodulosus | Flowering Plants | |
| Campylium stellatum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Scorpidium revolvens | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Molinia caerulea | Flowering Plants | |
| Cladium mariscus | Flowering Plants |
Other classifications
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | D4.1 | Rich fens, including eutrophic tall-herb fens and calcareous flushes and soaks | narrower |
| European Red List of Habitats | D4.1b | Tall-sedge base-rich fen | same |
History
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | D4.1 | Rich fens, including eutrophic tall-herb fens and calcareous flushes and soaks | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | D4.1 | Rich fens, including eutrophic tall-herb fens and calcareous flushes and soaks | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | D4.1 | Rich fens, including eutrophic tall-herb fens and calcareous flushes and soaks | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | D4.1 | Rich fens, including eutrophic tall-herb fens and calcareous flushes and soaks | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | D4.1 | Rich fens, including eutrophic tall-herb fens and calcareous flushes and soaks | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | D4.1 | Rich fens, including eutrophic tall-herb fens and calcareous flushes and soaks | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 54.2 | Rich fens | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 54.2 | Rich fens | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 54.2 | same | ||
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 54.2 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 | 54.2 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 | 54.2 | same |
